We are God's work of Art

 Often when I visit an art gallery or an exhibition it is hard to know what you are looking at. Our eyes have been trained over time to be engaged by movement and action whereas an art piece like a painting or a sculpture can seem fairly static. When we look at a piece of art if it does not immediately engage us we often quickly move on or when we are caught by a particular image the crowds move us on. We don't have the time to pause and soak it in.  There can also be an inner reaction that questions what message an artist may be sending us. We are drawn occasionally to that which makes us comfortable and at peace rather than what challenges us to become one with the peace of art.

Recently, I was part of an exhibition about the artwork of David Hockney. What stays with me is his insight into reverse perspective when we gaze upon art. Often we look at art from our own perspective rather than that of the artist. In reverse perspective, we are drawn to see how we are part of the artwork and it draws us to participate and become with what we gaze upon. This is present especially in Iconography where the artist writes an Icon to draw us to contemplate how we are drawn into the heart of God. This is a way in which our gaze draws us to the centre and allows us the opportunity to notice how God leads our hearts to contemplate how we participate in this divine life.

This is at the heart of what we celebrate in Lent. God seeks to shift our focus from that which disfigures, disguises, and disembodies the reality of how God created us to be in a loving relationship. Too often we can become conscious of what obscures or misdirects in life to seek our own path. God gently draws us back not by focusing on our sin, weakness, and vulnerability but rather by reawakening with us what we truly desire. God seeks to enlighten us so that we can see clearly with fresh vision.

God sees us to view the whole of creation with wonder and grace. This is by spending time relishing how we are God's work of art. This may mean that we spend time restoring, renewing, and repairing what causes us to doubt that God sees us in this way. God adjusts our vision and our perspective to draw us closer to be present with our whole self and not just with a passing glance at who it is that brings us life and meaning.